Pomona Public Library hours to be adjust this month to create greater consistency in service schedule

POMONA - The Public Library's service hours will soon change, an adjustment brought about partly at the request of patrons.

As of Dec. 18, the library will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Library personnel said they noticed a drop in patrons on Tuesdays, when the library is open from the mornings to the early afternoon.

Patrons, particularly students, have requested more service hours later in the day, said Susan Paul, the city's human resources and risk management director.

"The public wanted really consistent hours," Paul said.

Library hours changed this summer after the implementation of personnel and service cuts.

Plans had called for temporarily closing the library at 625 S. Garey Ave. for a year as part of a cost-cutting effort. City officials gave the library a reprieve and it will continue operating until the end of June but with limited hours and staff reductions.

During a series of meetings in October, residents expressed a desire for consistent hours for when the library is open, Paul said. The meetings aimed to gather feedback as part of an effort to create a plan for the library's future.

The new schedule will "make it much easier for people to keep track" of hours," Councilwoman Paula Lantz said.

"It really came as a recommendation of library staff and patrons of library. I think it makes sense."

Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa said she attended two of the meetings and heard residents speak about the variation in service hours. Patrons complained the schedule made it difficult to know when they could visit the library, Carrizosa said.

"Now we will have consistency until June," she said.

Personnel will continue to monitor activity at the library and make further schedule adjustments if necessary, Paul said.

Efforts are underway to inform the public about the library schedule change, Paul said.